An impressive 650,000 pounds was the final bid for a jakobslöser in gold in the weight of 20 goldgulden sold at the auction conducted by London Coin Galleries in collaboration with Künker, on October 30, 2015. Jakobslöser were issued as a testimony to the quick pace at which the ducal mining authority had successfully made the “Großer St. Jakob” Mine at Lautental economically lucrative. Constituting part of the Preussag Collection, not only löser of 4, 3, and 2 reichsthaler were offered for sale, but also a gold pattern that once belonged to the private collection of the Mecklenburg-based merchant Carl Friedrich Pogge (1752-1840). At his time, Pogge ranged among the most famous coin collectors in young Germany. He was one of the most generous benefactors of the newly-founded provincial museum of New Western Pomerania and Rugia. Parts of his collection were given to this institution and the Rugian-Pomeranian Historical Society. In 1903, his descendants first sold this gold pattern of a löser of the “Großer St. Jakob” Mine through L. & L. Hamburger in Frankfurt. Since then, this pattern was part of several important collections, such as the Vogelsang Collection. The proud new owner of this precious item acquired the piece for a price equivalent to 911,500 euros or 1 million US dollars.

Anyone who did not wish to spend as much money on a new acquisition was given the opportunity to purchase an item from the same emission, but in a lighter weight and not made of gold. This löser of 2 reichsthaler, graded very fine with only small scratches and a rim nick, went over the auction block for 2,600 pounds.

With that said, it certainly becomes apparent how the pricing in regards to the löser worked: the collector who intended to acquire a magnificently preserved item in the weight of several reichsthaler had to pay a price in the six-digit range. Those who settled for a denomination not quite as heavy arrived in the lower to middle four-digit range. Here are a few examples:

Of course, the great rarities featuring interesting depictions were particularly popular. For example a slightly later löser of 10 reichsthaler, dating from 1634, on the afore-mentioned “Großer St. Jakob” Mine. The Preussag Collection offered three different variants of this coin: a löser of 10 reichsthaler obtained 160,000 pounds (estimate: 40,000), a löser of 6 reichsthaler 60,000 pounds (estimate: 15,000), and a second die variant of the löser of 10 reichsthaler was sold for 150,000 pounds (estimate: 30,000).

Not as expensive but just as interesting were the 327 mining coins offered for sale at the auction. They bear testimony to the pride of the territorial princes possessing and operating mines with state-of-the-art equipment. To really appreciate the depictions on these coins, just imagine the Federal Republic of Germany – taking the same pride in its economy – striking commemorative coins featureing machinery necessary to produce a Mercedes Benz or an internationally renown product such as the Fischer plug.

While rarities like the 1695 double ducat of Christian Ernest of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, made of metal mined from the Goldkronach mines and graded extremely fine, obtained 50,000 pounds (estimate: 20,000 pounds) and the Russian 1832 5 rouble piece, minted in St. Petersburg and made of metal mined from the Kolyvan gold mines, achieved 55,000 Pounds (estimate: 20,000 Pounds), the final bids for a number of highly attractive specimens, in contrast, ranged in the lower four-digit region. A striking example is a magnificent silver medal of Ernest August of Brunswick-Calenberg-Hanover with a detailed depiction of a horse capstan. Estimated at 600 pounds, this very rare medal changed hands for 1,800 pounds.

By acquiring a 1698 reichsthaler from the Henneburg County, minted in Ilmenau, the buyer received even more mining depictions for less money. This coins’ reverse provides a detailed look into the daily routine of the miners working in the shafts and tunnels. It was estimated at 600 pounds but changed hands for 900 pounds at the sale.

Let us conclude this auction review by looking at an exquisite gold coin in the weight of 10 ducats. Ferdinand III had it struck in 1648 from the metal mined from the Ferdinand Mine at Schemnitz at the end of the Thirty Years‘ War. Estimated at 100,000 pounds, the coin went over the auction block for 260,000 pounds. Lastly, on a pre-sale estimate of 7,500 euros, the silver version of this coin made from the same dies, realized 17,000 pounds.

Künker will conduct the next auction on February 4, 2016, in Berlin as part of the World Money Fair. The catalog may be ordered at Künker, Nobbenburgerstrasse 4a, D-49 076 Osnabrück; phone +49 (0)541 / 96 20 20; telefax: +49 (0)541 / 96 20 222; or by writing an email.